# how do "spit babies" happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147 "2003-01-27T02:48:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/1 "2003-01-27T02:48:34Z")
I read somewhere that one consequence of Bush’s abstinence-only education programs in Texas is that a) there’s an upswing in teen pregnancies, and b) lots of teenage girls attribute their pregnancies to oral sex, a phenomenon which they describe with the term “spit babies.” When a woman has a “spit baby,” what actually happens? Clearly not what they’re claiming, but what’s the alternative? i.e.: a) they’re lying, and claiming they only had oral sex in order to save face, b) they carelessly let sperm spill on their vulvas, and erroneously attribute the pregnancy to fellatio, since they think penetration is necessary for pregnancy, c) midichlorions d) ??? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/2 "2003-01-27T03:03:01Z")
Probably (a). It’s also possible that they’ve engaged in penetration, but not to orgasm, after which they ‘finished’ with oral sex. Since the intercourse wasn’t to orgasm, they didn’t count it as “sex” (I sure would) and probably didn’t think one could get pregnant that way, but enough sperm were released for conception. so, perhaps d) abject ignorance ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/3 "2003-01-27T03:18:00Z")
Best I could find was a Washington Post article [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A19148-2003Jan20](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A19148-2003Jan20) ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/4 "2003-01-27T03:32:40Z")
I agree with Sublight. Abject ignorance. My niece grew up in This Modern Age, in which she learned the proper use of a condom, and other mechanical details of the Baby-Making Thing, in third-grade health class. This didn’t stop her from relying on a Coca-Cola douche as her sole method of contraception in her nineteenth year. My little great-niece is named Addie, and she’s adorable! ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/5 "2003-01-27T03:36:45Z")
I agree with Sublight. Abject ignorance. My niece grew up in This Modern Age, in which she learned the proper use of a condom, and other mechanical details of the Baby-Making Thing, in third-grade health class. This didn’t stop her from relying on a Coca-Cola douche as her sole method of contraception in her nineteenth year. One shotgun weddin’ later, I have a little great-niece named Addie, and she’s adorable. As the Bard said (in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING): “The world must be peopled!” ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/6 "2003-01-27T04:15:55Z")
That’s using your head. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/7 "2003-01-27T13:19:18Z")
As I understand the sequence, it goes like this: 1. She licks him, and her saliva becomes inhabited by sperm cells. 2. They kiss, exchanging saliva. 3. He licks her, turnabout being fair play. 4. The twice-transferred sperm cells take it from there, and seek out Ms. egg. I have no idea how likely this is, but sperm cells are tenacious little guys. As Judy Tenuta says, “It could happen.” ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-spit-babies-happen/151147/8 "2003-01-27T16:08:10Z")
Let fire mature for 4-6 hours Season baby with salt, pepper, garlic, and spices to taste Place Apple in mouth Place baby on spit Cook 4-6 hours until done.